Bourge St Maurice

Spent the last two days staying with Ciarans parents who have looked after us so well. We were all so tired when we arrived and are now feeling so much better. Comfortable beds, fabulous meals and lovely company. Went with a drive with Ciaron yesterday to Val'd'sere about an hours drive away. A ritzy high class ski resort town. For a cool 2.5 million euros you to could own a 3 bedroom apartment only metres from the ski lifts. Drove further up the pass to the snow line to see the large cliffs of snow.

In afternoon went for a drive up the other side of the valley to the start of a 6 hour day tramp. Came across a herd of cows with the cowbells on. About 100 cows making a chorus of noise from the bells. Certainly would not want to be in a house next to the cow paddock. Today went to the slalom site to watch the guys train. They are looking pretty good in their boats and roll on Seu Spain .
Leave for Spain tomorrow. About a 7 hour drive.

More Photos of the time in Northern Italy

Europe tour starts

Camping grounds in the mountains above Ivrea Brent with a frypan fill of Italian pasta

Ivrea slalom course

Well I have now been in Europe and have travelled from Munich to Augsberg, back to Munich and on to Avrea in northern Italy with Mike Brent and Johann. The trip over was long and tiring but managed the train trip to Augsbergwithout mishap and was happy to get to the BLZ and meet up with Brent. I am happy to let the boys drive as driving in left hand drive cars gets a bit of getting used to especially with the narrow streets in Italy the fast drivers and crash barriers.

The car is a little small due to the gear we have to travel with. Avrea is the site for the Extreme Mountain Games and as far as the kayaking is concerned it is certainly extreme. Racing down 12 metre waterfalls deadly rapids with leaps of drops and rocks. Certainly not for the weak hearted. Stayed two nights up the mountain camping. Ate in little Italian restuarants and struggled a little to get the order across. At one time we ordered three pastas only to have three fry pans fill of pasta. Delicious but enough to feed about 12 people when we were only three. Did manage to get a doggy bag and did not have to buy food for the following couple of days.

Moved for the next couple of days into Avrea for the slalom sprint and boatercross. Avrea is a lovely historic city with an amazing river running through the middle of it with part being converted into an slalom rather narly slalom course. The mountain games included kayaking bouldering rock climbing biking and running and created a very festive weekend.

Left Avrea after prizegiving and headed north through the mountains into France to Bourge St Maurice and are staying with friends ( Cierons parents ). It was like an oasis arriving here after four nights camping and all the travelling. Cierons parents are lovely and fantastic hosts. Thanks very much for everything. This morning went for a two hour bike ride across the mountain roads with absolutely amazing scenery with views across the valley to the snow capped ski mountainswith all the small french villages spread across the valley. Looking forward to many more bike rides. I have been give many other rides and day walks for the next couple of days and when Kay gets here. Great to have R & R today and recharge the batteries so I can attempt to keep up with the younger generation. They have so much energy.

2010 Travels to Europe

The last night before Les flies out to Europe for five months Roll on Sunday am

Check this out

Can you believe this 23 years since Tauranga had hail like this

The MANS the MAN-Rainbowrage SI

65 kms uphill in the sunshine and 40 kms downhill into gale force southerlies with heavy rain and COLD!!!!! 8.5 hours riding with 660 other riders from St Arnaud to Hamner Springs 106 km in all. Arriving in Hamner with uncontrolled shivering, sore aching muscles and dripping like a drowned cat. Fantastic fun, great sense of achievement, short memory of pain and cold, great memory of fellow competitors well done Pete and Rob we will be back for the views in the sun 2010.

Mike and Marjolijn NZ

Special times with wonderful friends

Awesome times Xmas Dec 08

We were so fortunate to have the whole family together at Xmas 25 years in a row so very special having all our adult kids home. three weeks of catching up, chilling out and sharing precious times.

Olympics continued

Last day of kayaking today after yesterdays semis and finals were postponed due to the torrential rain and thunderstorms. No free day today for shopping and sightseeing and fly to NZ tomorrow.
Had final official banquet at the blush Reward Hotel in Shunyi compliments of the Shunyi Olympic Park Committee. Lovely night after we got through security particularly hard as I was no one of the elite having an Accreditation Card. After much haggling to the right people finally got through to enjoy the night.

Official Dinner at Beijing Canoe Club

A lovely night at the clubhouse located on the Western Lake in the middle of Beijing. Friendly hosts, great scenery, fabulous food and a great performance by local acrobats.

Olympic Course

Fantastic Venue

Kay Judging

Security arriving at the Official Reception. This happens everywhere we go anywhere. Going, arriving, leaving, arriving, staying and returning!!!

Les' Birthday!!

Best birthday present ever tickets and flowers!!!!

Ready for the Olympics the last official dinner until 15th

Tonight the President of the Chinese Canoe Association invited the ITO's to welcoming banquet at the Jinzhaofy Restaurant where for the second time this week we had the opportunity to taste Peking Duck. What a treat. There are 22 ITO's from around the world from a group of 55 qualified judges for the Olympics. It is a privilege and honour to be selected to judge at the Olympics.









Les has tickets to the kayaking thanks to the CCA and Wan Hongjiun. the nZ rowers are at the judges hotel they did so well today. Congrats everyone.